Champion Hurdle 2021

[The King Pimm]

The niggling doubt for me with Goshen is that he’s still not experienced the Cheltenham Hill. He fell before it last festival has not encountered it since. Like the Travelator in the epic TV series Gladiators he’s not finished the assault course as yet. I think he may not get up the hill without getting passed before the winning line. A match fit Epatante & Sharjah may pounce late

[ComplyOrDie]

The niggling doubt for me with Goshen is that he’s still not experienced the Cheltenham Hill. He fell before it last festival has not encountered it since.

Surely you're having a laugh TKP?

He fell at the last hurdle which is just inside the final furlong, that's not when the hill starts.

[Hoofit]

The niggling doubt for me with Goshen is that he’s still not experienced the Cheltenham Hill. He fell before it last festival has not encountered it since. Like the Travelator in the epic TV series Gladiators he’s not finished the assault course as yet. I think he may not get up the hill without getting passed before the winning line. A match fit Epatante & Sharjah may pounce late

Kevin Blake's take on the hill...

https://cheltenham.attheraces.com/features/the-myth-of-the-cheltenham-hill

[Outlaw]

5/1 don’t interest me either, but the again he’s been available at far bigger for some time now

But we are speaking post race now he has proved his well being again, prior to today he still had plenty to prove is fair to say.

[Outlaw]

His task is still huge, to win a G1 at the first time of asking giving two mares weight who it’s fair to speculate one will run to a 160 means he could have to nudge a 168+. That applies to any Gedling of course but it certainly is a very big ask, great to see him add spice to the division albeit 5/1 wouldn’t interest me one bit.


*sectionals to be added later* as referring to RP offers little.

Run some numbers for the first two novice hurdles, the Kingwell and the c3(0-135) over 21f. Times are for the final circuits for comparisons. I've also added Song for someone's to highlight how he ran vs other races, i'll let you all come to your own conclusions with deteriorating ground throughout the day and other variables.

	Longshanks	Pol Crocan	Goshen	Song For Someone	FLDC
	2m	2m	2m	2m	2m 5f
Line to 1st	45.2	46.1	43.5	43.6	45.1
1st to 2nd	15.5	15	14.5	14.6	14.9
2nd to 3rd	14.4	14.4	14.2	14.1	14
3rd to 4th	11.7	11.6	11.5	11.6	11.4
4th to 5th	70.6	70.4	70.3	71.5	74.8
5th to 6th	11.3	11.3	11.6	12.5	12.8
6th to line	17.9	18.2	18.2	21	20.2
Circuit	186.6	187	183.8	188.9	193.2
	(3m 6.6)	(3m 7)	(3m 3.8)	(3m 8.9)	(3m 13.2)
2 out line	29.2	29.5	29.8	33.5	33

[Atlantic Viking]

The niggling doubt for me with Goshen is that he’s still not experienced the Cheltenham Hill. He fell before it last festival has not encountered it since. Like the Travelator in the epic TV series Gladiators he’s not finished the assault course as yet. I think he may not get up the hill without getting passed before the winning line. A match fit Epatante & Sharjah may pounce late

So you're saying they should jock Moore off for John Fashanu? It's been a strange old year I suppose, why not.

[Exar Essay]

I had a small saver at 25/1 a couple of weeks
ago, but that was a punt on what Goshen might be. After that run today, there is form in the book. Im
still not sure exactly how I’m rating the form, but it’s good form nonetheless. In some ways, the 5/1 on offer now is more of a logical bet, than the 25/1 available after a horror show LTO, two lifeless flat runs, and the infamous fall at the last at Chelts.

[The King Pimm]

So you're saying they should jock Moore off for John Fashanu? It's been a strange old year I suppose, why not.

The way Goshen travelled today you could put Ulrika on his back and he’d still have won

[Lobos]

I think it’s time for a vote Kev?? Honeysuckle and Goshen have come off the bench to really shake this race up. If you have one bet who will it be on to win this year’s Champion Hurdle??

Can you give me a couple of days to think this one over please.........

[Istabraq]

Like many in here I had a few big priced multis that included Goshen so I declined the option of playing the 20/1 and bigger.
Does anyone else have the Sky RAB 90/1 Envoi Allen and Goshen to win any race ?

[Muswell]

I have Goshen/ EA/ paisley at 100/1 so close but no cigar

[Carnage at Taunton]

But we are speaking post race now he has proved his well being again, prior to today he still had plenty to prove is fair to say.

Yes we are , but his run in the Triumph and the form of those that he would have beat senseless in that race like Aspire Tower eg, told all of us that he was a lot better than he showed in the international
Question was could he show that next time out......we got the answer today, just down to us to decide weather to take prices available to find out that answer.
Obviously some did and some did not.

[Outlaw]

Yes we are , but his run in the Triumph and the form of those that he would have beat senseless in that race like Aspire Tower eg, told all of us that he was a lot better than he showed in the international
Question was could he show that next time out......we got the answer today, just down to us to decide weather to take prices available to find out that answer.
Obviously some did and some did not.

5/1 is a shit price, I find it hard to fathom how it isn’t tbh but each to their own.

[Muswell]

Big difference between today and CH is getting 6lb rather than giving away 7lb

[The King Pimm]

Surely you're having a laugh TKP?

He fell at the last hurdle which is just inside the final furlong, that's not when the hill starts.

Awe man, I’m drunk and going to have to think about this now CoD!!

The Triumph is ran on the new course isn’t it so the hill starts earlier in the new course than old so there is a longer run in on during the Triumph than the Champion Hurdle? That’s where Allmankind & Aspire Tower came unstuck when Goshen fell as they started to tread water with 100 yards to go when Burning Victory powered on. My point is that we don’t know if Goshen would have seen the hill out or his fate would have been the same as Appreciate It and get caught in the last 100 yards if he hadn’t fallen. Due to his poor form so far this year many of us are still doubtful as to whether he can pull away in a Champion Hurdle like he did today and sustain it. Personally I think Jaime Moore needs to work out how he keeps tabs on Honeysuckle, Aspire Tower & Silver Streak assuming they take themselves on at the front and when to challenge without being collared by Epatante, Sharjah & Abracadabras. This race could now be one of the most competitive of the whole festival.